



Classi XX i a 
Book \BA2, 






Standing Rules 



FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE 



Senate of the United States 



WITH RULES FOR THE REGULA- 
TION OF THE SENATE WING OF 
THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL 
ADOPTED BY THE COM- 
MITTEE ON RULES 




WASHINGTON 
1912 



Standing Rules 

FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE 

Senate of the United States 

rgg 

WITH RULES FOR THE REGULA- 
TION OF THE SENATE WING OF 
THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL 
ADOPTED BY THE COM- 
MITTEE ON RULES 




WASHINGTON 
1912 







OCT 3 W? 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Standing ruees for conducting business in the Senate oe 

the United States 5 

Index to 39 

r.uees for the regulation of the senate wing of the 

United States Capitoe 63 

3 



STANDING RULES FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE 
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 



RULE I. 

APPOINTMENT OF A SENATOR TO THE CHAIR.* 

i. In the absence of the Vice-President, the Senate shall 

ChoOSe a President pro tempore. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX. 

2. In the absence of the Vice-President, and pending the 
election of a President pro tempore, the Secretary of the Senate, 
or in his absence the Chief Clerk, shall perform the duties of 

the Chair. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX. 

3. The President pro tempore shall have the right to name 
in open Senate, or, if absent, in writing, a Senator to perform 
the duties of the Chair; but such substitution shall not extend 
beyond an adjournment, except by unanimous consent. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX. 

4. In event of a vacancy in the office of the Vice-President, 
the President pro tempore shall have the right to name, in 
writing, a Senator to perform the duties of the Chair during 
his absence; and the Senator so named shall have the right to 
name in open session, or in writing, if absent, a Senator to 

* On motion by Mr. Bvarts, the Senate resumed the consideration of the 
resolution relative to the tenure of office of the President pro tempore; 
and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Turpie to read as follows: 

Resolved, That it is competent for the Senate to elect. a President pro 
tempore, who shall hold the office during the pleasure of the Senate until 
another is elected, and shall execute the duties thereof during all future 
absences of the Vice-President until the Senate otherwise order. 

After debate, the resolution as amended was agreed to. 

[Senate Jour., March 12, 1890. 
5 



6 Sta?idi?ig Rules of the Senate. 

perform the duties of the Chair, but such substitution shall not 
extend beyond adjournment, except by unanimous consent.* 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX. 

RULE II. 

OATHS, ETC. 

The oaths or affirmations required by the Constitution and 
prescribed by law shall be taken and subscribed by each Sena- 
tor, in open Senate, before entering upon his duties, [see page 37. 

RULE III. 

COMMENCEMENT OF DAILY SESSIONS. 

i . The Presiding Officer having taken the chair, and a quorum 
being present, the Journal of the preceding day shall be read, 
and any mistake made in the entries corrected. The reading 
of the Journal shall not be suspended unless by unanimous 
consent; and when any motion shall be made to amend or 
correct the same, it shall be deemed a privileged question, and 

proceeded with Until disposed Of. [Jefferson's Manual, Sees. VI, XUX. 

2. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Senators duly 

chosen and SWOrn. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. VI. 

RULE IV. 

JOURNAL. 

i . The proceedings of the Senate shall be briefly and accu- 
rately stated on the Journal. Messages of the President in 

*Mr. Piatt, of Connecticut, submitted the following resolution; which 
was considered by unanimous consent and agreed to: 

Resolved, That whenever a Senator shall be designated by the President 
pro tempore to perform the duties of the Chair during his temporary 
absence he shall be empowered to sign, as acting President pro tempore \ 
the enrolled bills and joint resolutions coming from the House of Repre- 
sentatives for presentation to the President of the United States. 

[Senate Jour., January 4, 1905. 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 7 

full; titles of bills and joint resolutions, and such parts as shall 
be affected by proposed amendments; every vote, and a brief 
statement of the contents of each petition, memorial, or paper 
presented to the Senate, shall be entered. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XI,IX. 

2. The legislative, the executive, the confidential legislative 
proceedings, and the proceedings when sitting as a Court of 
Impeachment, shall each be recorded in a separate book. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XLIX. 

RULE V. 

QUORUM — ABSENT SENATORS MAY BE SENT FOR. 

i. No Senator shall absent himself from the sendee of the 

Senate without leave. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. VIII. 

2. If, at any time during the daily sessions of the Senate, a 
question shall be raised by any Senator as to the presence of 
a quorum, the Presiding Officer shall forthwith direct the Sec- 
retary to call the roll and shall announce the result, and these 

proceedings Shall be without debate. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. VII. 

3. Whenever upon such roll call it shall be ascertained that 
a quorum is not present, a majority of the Senators present 
may direct the Sergeant-at-Arms to request, and, when nec- 
essary, to compel the attendance of the absent Senators, which 
order shall be determined without debate; and pending its 
execution, and until a quorum shall be present, no debate nor 
motion, except to adjourn, shall be in order. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sees. VII, Vin. 

RULE VI. 

PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS. 

I. The presentation of the credentials of Senators elect and 
other questions of privilege shall always be in order, except 



8 Standing Rules of the Senate, 

during the reading and correction of the Journal, while a ques- 
tion of order or a motion to adjourn is pending, or while the 
Senate is dividing; and all questions and motions arising or 
made upon the presentation of such credentials shall be pro- 
ceeded with until disposed of. 

2. The Secretary shall keep a record of the certificates of 
election of Senators by entering in a well-bound book kept for 
that purpose the date of the election, the name of the person 
elected and the vote given at the election, the date of the cer- 
tificate, the name of the governor and the secretary of state 
signing and countersigning the same, and the State from which 
such Senator is elected.* 

* Resolution submitted by Mr. Hoar, and agreed to February 25, 1897: 

Resolved, That in the opinion of the Senate the following is a convenient 
and sufficient form of certificate of election of a Senator, to be signed by 
the executive of any State in pursuance of section eighteen of the Revised 
Statutes of the United States: 
To the President of the Senate of the United States: 

This is to certify that on the day of , nineteen hundred 

, A B was duly chosen by the legislature of the State of a 

Senator from said State to represent said State in the Senate of the United 
States for the term of six years, beginning on the fourth day oi March, 
nineteen hundred . 

Witness: His excellency our governor, , and our seal hereto 

affixed at , this day of , in the year of our L,ord . 

By the governor: 

[SEAi,.] C D, 

Governor, 

E F, 

Secretary of State: 

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate shall send a copy of these 
resolutions to the executive and secretary of state of each State wherein 
an election of Senator is about to take place, in season that they may use 
this form in certifying the result thereof, if they see fit. 

[Sen. Jour., Feb. 25, 1897. 



Standing Rules of the Senate, 9 

RULE VII. 

MORNING BUSINESS. 

i. After the Journal is read, the Presiding Officer shall lay 
before the Senate messages from the President, reports and 
communications from the heads of Departments, and other com- 
munications addressed to the Senate, and such bills, joint reso- 
lutions, and other messages from the House of Representatives 
as may remain upon his table from any previous day's session 
undisposed of. The Presiding Officer shall then call for, in the 
following order: 

The presentation of petitions and memorials. 

Reports of standing and select committees. 

The introduction of bills and joint resolutions. 

Concurrent and other resolutions. 
All of which shall be received and disposed of in such order, 
unless unanimous consent shall be otherwise given. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIV. 

2. Senators having petitions, memorials, pension bills, bills 
for the payment of private claims or for the correction of naval 
or military records to present after the morning hour may 
deliver them to the Secretary of the Senate, indorsing upon 
them their names and the reference or disposition to be made 
thereof, and said petitions, memorials, and bills shall, with the 
approval of the Presiding Officer, be entered on the Journal 
with the names of the Senators presenting them as having been 
read twice and referred to the appropriate committees, and the 
Secretary of the Senate shall furnish a transcript of such entries 
to the official reporter of debates for publication in the Record. 

It shall not be in order to interrupt a Senator having the 
floor, for the purpose of introducing any memorial, petition. 



io Standing Rules of the Senate. 

report of a committee, resolution, or bill. It shall be the duty 
of the Chair to enforce this rule without any point of order 
hereunder being made by a Senator. 

3. Until the morning business shall have been concluded, 
and so announced from the Chair, or until the hour of 1 o'clock 
has arrived, no motion to proceed to the consideration of any 
bill, resolution, report of a committee,^ or other subject upon 
the Calendar shall be entertained by the Presiding Officer, 
unless by unanimous consent; and if such consent be given the 
motion shall not be subject to amendment, and shall be decided 
without debate upon the merits of the subject proposed to be 

taken Up. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIV. 

4. Every petition or memorial shall be referred, without put- 
ting the question, unless objection to such reference is made; 
in which case all. motions for the reception or reference of such 
petition, memorial, or other paper shall be put in the order in 
which the same shall be made, and shall not be open to amend- 
ment, except tO add instructions. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIX. 

5. Every petition or memorial shall be signed by the peti- 
tioner or memorialist and have indorsed thereon a brief state- 
ment of its contents, and shall be presented and referred without 
debate. But no petition or memorial or other paper signed by 
citizens or subjects of a foreign power shall be received, unless 
the same be transmitted to the Senate by the President.* 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIX. 

6. The Presiding Officer may at any time lay, and it shall be 
in order at any time for a Senator to move to lay, before the 
Senate, any bill or other matter sent to the Senate by the Presi- 

* Ordered, That when petitions and memorials are ordered printed in 
the Congressional Record the order shall be deemed to apply to the body 
of the petition only, and the names attached to said petition or memorial 
shall not be printed unless specially ordered by the Senate. 

[Sen. Jour., 49th Cong., 2d sess., p. 280. 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 1 1 

dent or the House of Representatives, and any question pending 
at that time shall be suspended for this purpose. Any motion 
so made shall be determined without debate. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIV. 

RULE VIII. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS. 

At the conclusion of the morning business for each day, unless 
upon motion the Senate shall at any time otherwise order, the 
Senate will proceed to the consideration of the Calendar of Bills 
and Resolutions, and continue such consideration until 2 o'clock;* 
and bills and resolutions that are not objected to shall be taken 
up in their order, and each Senator shall be entitled to speak 
once and for five minutes only upon any question; and the ob- 
jection may be interposed at any stage of the proceedings, but 
upon motion the Senate may continue such consideration; and 
this order shall commence immediately after the call for ' ' con- 
current and other resolutions, ' ' and shall take precedence of the 
unfinished business and other special orders. But if the Senate 
shall proceed with the consideration of any matter notwithstand- 
ing an objection, the foregoing provisions touching debate shall 

not apply. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIV. 

All motions made before 2 o'clock to proceed to the consider- 
ation of any matter shall be determined without debate. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIV. 

RULE IX. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS (CONTINUED). 

Immediately after the consideration of cases not objected to 
upon the Calendar is completed, and not later than 2 o'clock, if 

* Resolution submitted by Mr. Hoar and adopted August 10, 1888: 
Resolved, That after to-day, unless otherwise ordered, the morning hour 

shall terminate at the expiration of two hours after the meeting of the 

Senate. 



12 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

there shall be no special orders for that time, the Calendar 'of 
General Orders shall be taken up and proceeded with in its 
order, beginning with the first subject on the Calendar next 
after the last subject disposed of in proceeding with the Calendar ; 
and in such case the following motions shall be in order at any 
time as privileged motions, save as against a motion to adjourn, 
or to proceed to the consideration of executive business, or 
questions of privilege, to wit : 

First. A motion to proceed to the consideration of an appro- 
priation or revenue bill. 

Second. A motion to proceed to the consideration of any- 
other bill on the Calendar, which motion shall not be open to 
amendment. 

Third. A motion to pass over the pending subject, which if 
carried shall have the effect to leave such subject without prej- 
udice in its place on the Calendar. 

Fourth. A motion to place such subject at the foot of the 
Calendar. 

Each . of the foregoing motions shall be decided without 
debate and shall have precedence in the order above named, 
and may be submitted as in the nature and with all the rights 

Of questions Of Order. [Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XIV, XXXUI. 

RULE X. 

SPECIAL ORDERS. 

i. Any subject may, by a vote of two-thirds of the Senators 
present, be made a special order ; and when the time so fixed for 
its consideration arrives the Presiding Officer shall lay it before 
the Senate, unless there be unfinished business of the preceding 
day, and if it is not finally disposed of on that day it shall take 
its place on the Calendar of Special Orders in the order of time 
at which it was made special, unless it shall become by adjourn- 
ment the Unfinished business. [Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XVIII, XXXIII. 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 13 

2. When two or more special orders have been made for the 
same time, they shall have precedence according to the order 
in which they were severally assigned, and that order shall only 
be changed by direction of the Senate. 

And all motions to change such order, or to proceed to the 
consideration of other business, shall be decided without debate. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XVIII, XXXIII. 

RULE XI. 

OBJECTION TO READING A PAPER. 

When the reading of a paper is called for, and objected to, it 
shall be determined by a vote of the Senate, without debate. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXII. 

RULE XII. 

VOTING, ETC. 

i. When the yeas and nays are ordered, the names of Sen- 
ators shall be called alphabetically ; and each Senator shall, 
without debate, declare his assent or dissent to the question, 
unless excused by the Senate ; and no Senator shall be per- 
mitted to vote after the decision shall have been announced by 
the Presiding Officer, but may for sufficient reasons, with unan- 
imous consent, change or withdraw his vote. No motion to 
suspend this rule shall be in order, nor shall the Presiding Offi- 
cer entertain any request to suspend it by unanimous consent. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XI*I. 

2. When a Senator declines to vote on call of his name, he 
shall be required to assign his reasons therefor, and having 
assigned them, the Presiding Officer shall submit the question 
to the Senate: "Shall the Senator, for the reasons assigned by 
him, be excused from voting?" which shall be decided without 
debate; and these proceedings shall be had after the roll call 
and before the result is announced; and any further proceedings 
in reference thereto shall be after such announcement. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XVII, XU 



14 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

RULE XIII. 

RECONSIDERATION. 

i. When a question has been decided by the Senate, any 
Senator voting with the prevailing side may, on the same day 
or on either of the next two days of actual session thereafter, 
move a reconsideration; and if the Senate shall refuse to recon- 
sider, or upon reconsideration shall affirm its first decision, no 
further motion to reconsider shall be in order unless by unani- 
mous consent. Every motion to reconsider shall be decided by 
a majority vote, and may be laid on the table without affecting 
the question in reference to which the same is made, which, 
shall be a final disposition of the motion. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIJII. 

2. When a bill, resolution, report, amendment, order, or mes- 
sage, upon which a vote has been taken, shall have gone out of 
the possession of the Senate and been communicated to the 
House of Representatives, the motion to reconsider shall be 
accompanied by a motion to request the House to return the 
same; which last motion shall be acted upon immediately, and 
without debate, and if determined in the negative shall be a 
final disposition of the motion to reconsider. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIJII. 

RUIvE XIV. 

BIIXS, JOINT RESOLUTIONS, AND RESOLUTIONS. 

i. Whenever a bill or joint resolution shall be offered, its 
introduction shall, if objected to, be postponed for one day. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXIII. 

2. Every bill and joint resolution shall receive three readings 
previous to its passage, which readings shall be on three differ- 
ent days, unless the Senate unanimously direct otherwise; and 
the Presiding Officer shall give notice at each reading whether 

it be the first, Second, Or third. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXII. 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 15 

3. No bill or joint resolution shall be committed or amended 
until it shall have been twice read, after which it may be re- 
ferred to a committee; bills and joint resolutions introduced on 
leave, and bills and joint resolutions from the House of Repre- 
sentatives, shall be read once, and may be read twice, on the 
same day, if not objected to, for reference, but shall not be con- 
sidered on that day as in Committee of the Whole, nor debated, 
except for reference, unless by unanimous consent. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXV. 

4. Every bill and joint resolution reported from a committee, 
not having previously been read, shall be read once, and twice, 
if not objected to, on the same day, and placed on the Calendar 
in the order in which the same may be reported; and every bill 
and joint resolution introduced on leave, and every bill and joint 
resolution of the House of Representatives which shall have 
received a first and second reading without being referred to a 
committee, shall, if objection be made to further proceeding 
thereon, be placed on the Calendar. [Jefferson's Manual, sec. xxv. 

5. All resolutions shall lie over one day for consideration, 
unless by unanimous consent the Senate shall otherwise direct. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXV. 

RULE XV. 

B1XLS — COMMITTEE OF THE WHOI<E. 
i. All bills and joint resolutions which shall have received 
two readings shall first be considered by the Senate as in Com- 
mittee of the Whole, after which they shall be reported to the 

Note. — "Resolved, That no communications from heads of Depart- 
ments, Commissioners, Chiefs of Bureaus, or other executive officers, 
except when authorized or required by law, or when made in response to 
a resolution of the Senate, will be received fry the Senate unless such 
communications shall be transmitted to the Senate by the President. 

[Senate Journal, i sess. 60 Cong. p. 122. 



1 6 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Senate; and any amendments made in Committee of the Whole 
shall again be considered by the Senate, after which further 

amendments may be proposed. [Jefferson's Manual, Sees, xxvi, xxx. 

2. When a bill or resolution shall have been ordered to be read 
a third time, it shall not be in order to propose amendments, 
unless by unanimous consent, but it shall be in order at any time 
before the passage of any bill or resolution to move its commit- 
ment; and when the bill or resolution shall again be reported 
from the committee it shall be placed on the Calendar, and 
when again considered by the Senate it shall be as in Commit- 
tee Of the Whole. [Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XXVI, XXX. 

3. Whenever a private bill is under consideration, it shall be 
in order to move, as a substitute for it, a resolution of the Sen- 
ate referring the case to the Court of Claims, under the provi- 
sions of the act approved March 3, 1883. 

RUIvB XVI. 

AMENDMENTS TO APPROPRIATION BIIJ^. 

i. All general appropriation bills shall be referred to the Com- 
mittee on Appropriations, except the following bills, which shall 
be severally referred as herein indicated, namely: The bill mak- 
ing appropriations for rivers and harbors, to the Committee on 
Commerce; the agricultural bill, to the Committee on Agricul- 
ture and Forestry; the Army and the Military Academy bills, 
to the Committee on Military Affairs; the Indian bill, to the 
Committee on Indian Affairs; the naval bill, to the Committee 
on Naval Affairs; the pension bill, to the Committee on Pen- 
sions; the Post-Ofhce bill, to the Committee on Post-Ofhces and 
Post- Roads; and no amendments shall be received to any gen- 
eral appropriation bill the effect of which will be to increase an 
appropriation already contained in the bill, or to add a new item 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 17 

of appropriation, unless it be made to carry out the provisions 
of some existing law, or treaty stipulation, or act, or resolution 
previously passed by the Senate during that session; or unless the 
same be moved by direction of a standing or select committee of 
the Senate, or proposed in pursuance of an estimate of the head 

Of SOme One Of the departments. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXV. 

2. All amendments to general appropriation bills moved by 
direction of a standing or select committee of the Senate, pro- 
posing to increase an appropriation already contained in the bill, 
or to add new items of appropriation, shall, at least one day 
before they are considered, be referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations, and when actually proposed to the bill no amend- 
ment proposing to increase the amount stated in such amend- 
ment shall be received; in like manner, amendments proposing 
new items of appropriation to river and harbor bills shall, before 
being considered, be referred to the Committee on Commerce; 
also amendments to bills establishing post-roads, or proposing new 
post-roads, shall, before being considered, be referred to the Com- 
mittee On PoSt-OfficeS and Post-Roads. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXV. 

3. No amendment which proposes general legislation shall be 
received to any general appropriation bill, nor shall any amend- 
ment not germane or relevant to the subject-matter contained 
in the bill be received; nor shall any amendment to any item or 
clause of such bill be received which does not directly relate 
thereto; and all questions of relevancy of amendments under 
this rule, when raised, shall be submitted to the Senate and be 
decided without debate; and any amendment to a general appro- 
priation bill may be laid on the table without prejudice to 

the bill. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXV. 

52578 — 12 2 



1 8 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

4. No amendment, the object of which is to provide for a 
private claim, shall be received to any general appropriation 
bill, unless it be to carry out the provisions of an existing law 
or a treaty stipulation, which shall be cited on the face of the 

amendment. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXV. 

RULE XVII. 

AMENDMENT MAY BE I.AID ON THE TABLE WITHOUT PREJU- 
DICE TO THE BIU,. 

When an amendment proposed to any pending measure is laid 
on the table, it shall not carry with it, or prejudice, such measure. 

RULE XVIII. 

AMENDMENTS — DIVISION OF A QUESTION. 

If the question in debate contains several propositions, any 
Senator may have the same divided, except a motion to strike 
out and insert, which shall not be divided; but the rejection of 
a motion to strike out and insert one proposition shall not pre- 
vent a motion to strike out and insert a different proposition; 
nor shall it prevent a motion simply to strike out; nor shall the 
rejection of a motion to strike out prevent a motion to strike 
out and insert. But pending a motion to strike out and insert, 
the part to be stricken out and the part to be inserted shall 
each be regarded for the purpose of amendment as a question; 
and motions to amend the part to be stricken out shall have 

precedence. [Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XXXV, XXXVI. 

RULE XIX. 

DEBATE. 

I. When a Senator desires to speak, he shall rise and address 
the Presiding Officer, and shall not proceed until he is recognized, 
and the Presiding Officer shall recognize the Senator who shall 



Standiyig Rules of the Senate. 19 

first address him. No Senator shall interrupt another Senator 
in debate without his consent, and to obtain such consent he 
shall first address the Presiding Officer; and no Senator shall 
speak more than twice upon any one question in debate on the 
same day without leave of the Senate, which shall be determined 

W T ith0Ut debate. [Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XVII, XXXIX. 

2. No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any 
form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators 
any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XVII. 

3. No Senator in debate shall refer offensively to any State 
of the Union. 

4. If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, transgress the 
rules of the Senate, the Presiding Officer shall, or any Senator 
may, call him to order; and when a Senator shall be called to 
order he shall sit down, and not proceed without leave of the 
Senate, which, if granted, shall be upon motion that he be 
allowed to proceed in order, which motion shall be determined 

without debate. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XVII. 

5. If a Senator be called to order for words spoken in debate, 
upon the demand of the Senator or of any other Senator the 
exceptionable words shall be taken down in writing, and read 
at the table for the information of the Senate. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XVII. 

RULE XX. 

QUESTIONS OF ORDER. 

i . A question of order may be raised at any stage of the pro- 
ceedings, except when the Senate is dividing, and, unless sub- 
mitted to the Senate, shall be decided by the Presiding Officer 
without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate. When an 
appeal is taken, any subsequent question of order which may 



20 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

arise before the decision of such appeal shall be decided by the 
Presiding Officer without debate; and every appeal therefrom 
shall be decided at once, and without debate; and any appeal 
may be laid on the table without prejudice to the pending propo- 
sition, and thereupon shall be held as affirming the decision of 

the Presiding Officer. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXIII. 

2. The Presiding Officer may submit any question of order for 

the decision of the Senate. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXIII. 

RUIvB XXI. 

MOTIONS. 

1. All motions shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the 
Presiding Officer or by any Senator, and shall be read before 

the Same Shall be debated. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XX. 

2. Any motion or resolution may be withdrawn or modified by 
the mover at any time before a decision, amendment, or ordering 
of the yeas and nays, except a motion to reconsider, which shall 

not be withdrawn without leave. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XX. 

RULE XXII. 

PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS. 

When a question is pending, no motion shall be received 
but— 

To adjourn. 

To adjourn to a day certain, or that when the Senate adjourn 
it shall be to a day certain. 

To take a recess. 

To proceed to the consideration of executive business. 

To lay on the table. 

To postpone indefinitely. 

To postpone to a day certain. 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 21 

To commit. 

To amend. 
Which several motions shall have precedence as they stand 
arranged; and the motions relating to adjournment, to take a 
recess, to proceed to the consideration of executive business, to 
lay on the table, shall be decided without debate. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXIII. 

RUIvB XXIII. 

PREAMBLES. 

When a bill or resolution is accompanied by a preamble, the 
question shall first be put on the bill or resolution and then on 
the preamble, which may be withdrawn by a mover before an 
amendment of the same, or ordering of the yeas and nays; or 
it may be laid on the table without prejudice to the bill or reso- 
lution, and shall be a final disposition of such preamble. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXVI. 

RUIvE XXIV. 

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. 

i. In the appointment of the standing committees, the Senate, 
unless otherwise ordered, shall proceed by ballot to appoint sev- 
erally the chairman of each committee, and then, by one ballot, 
the other members necessary to complete the same. A majority 
of the whole number of votes given shall be necessary to the 
choice of a chairman of a standing committee, but a plurality 
of votes shall elect the other members thereof. All other com- 
mittees shall be appointed by ballot, unless otherwise ordered, 

and a plurality Of VOteS Shall appoint. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XI. 

2. When a chairman of a committee shall resign or cease to 
serve on a committee, and the Presiding Officer be authorized 
by the Senate to fill the vacancy in such committee, unless 
specially otherwise ordered, it shall be only to fill up the num- 
ber on the committee. 



22 Standing Rules of the Senate, 

RULE XXV. * 

STANDING COMMITTEES. 

i. The following standing committees shall be appointed at 
the commencement of each Congress, with leave to report by 
bill or otherwise: 

A Committee on Additional Accommodations for the Library 
of Congress, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, to consist of 
sixteen Senators. 

A Committee on Appropriations, to consist of seventeen 
Senators. 

A Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of 
the Senate, to consist of five Senators, to which shall be referred 
all resolutions directing the payment of money out of the con- 
tingent fund of the Senate or creating a charge upon the same. 

A Committee on Canadian Relations, to consist of nine 
Senators. 

A Committee on the Census, to consist of twelve Senators. 

A Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment, to consist 
of twelve Senators. 

A Committee on Claims, to consist of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Coast and Insular Survey, to consist of nine 
Senators. 

A Committee on Coast Defenses, to consist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Commerce, to consist of seventeen Senators. 

A Committee on Conservation of National Resources, to con- 
sist of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Corporations Organized in the District of 
Columbia, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Cuban Relations, to consist of ten Senators. 

*As amended by Senate Resolution of April 28, 191 1, Sixty-second 
Congress, first session. 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 23 

A Committee on Disposition of Useless Papers in the Execu- 
tive Departments, to consist of three Senators. 

A Committee on the District of Columbia, to consist of four- 
teen Senators. 

A Committee on Education and I^abor, to consist of eleven 
Senators. 

A Committee on Engrossed Bills, to consist of three Senators, 
which shall examine all bills, amendments, and joint resolutions 
before they go out of the possession of the Senate. 

A Committee on Enrolled Bills, to consist of three Senators, 
which shall have power to act jointly with the same committee 
of the House of Representatives, and which, or some one of 
which, shall examine all bills or joint resolutions which shall 
have passed both Houses, to see that the same are correctly 
enrolled, and, when signed by the Speaker of the House and 
President of the Senate, shall forthwith present the same, when 
they shall have originated in the Senate, to the President of the 
United States in person, and report the fact and date of such 
presentation to the Senate. 

A Committee to Examine the Several Branches of the Civil 
Service, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Agricul- 
ture, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Com- 
merce and Eabor,* to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Interior Department, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice, 
to consist of five Senators. 

* Provided for by Senate Resolution of April 5, 191 2, Sixty-second Con- 
gress, second session. 



24 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Post-Office Department, 
to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State, 
to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department, 
to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the War Department, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Finance, to consist of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Fisheries, to consist of nine Senators, to 
which shall be referred all matters relating to fish and fisheries. 

A Committee on the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians, to con- 
sist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Foreign Relations, to consist of fifteen 
Senators. 

A Committee on Forest Reservations and the Protection of 
Game, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on the Geological Survey, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

A Committee on Immigration, to consist of thirteen Senators. 

A Committee on Indian Affairs, to consist of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Indian Depredations, to consist of eleven 
Senators. 

A Committee on Industrial Expositions, to consist of thirteen 
Senators. 

A Committee on Interoceanic Canals, to consist of fourteen 
Senators. 

A Committee on Interstate Commerce, to consist of sixteen 
Senators. 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 25 

A Committee to Investigate Trespassers on Indian Lands, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid Lands, 
to consist of thirteen Senators. 

A Joint Committee on the Revision of the Laws of the 
United States, to consist of four Senators. 

A Committee on the Judiciary, to consist of sixteen Senators. 

A Committee on the Library, to consist of eight Senators, 
which shall have power to act jointly with the same committee 
of the House of Representatives. 

A Committee on Manufactures, to consist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Military Affairs, to consist of sixteen Sena- 
tors. 

A Committee on Mines and Mining, to consist of ten Senators. 

A Committee on the Mississippi River and its Tributaries, 
to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on National Banks,* to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Naval Affairs, to consist of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Pacific Islands and Porto Rico, to consist of 
twelve Senators. 

A Committee on Pacific Railroads, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Patents, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on Pensions, to consist of fourteen Senators. 

A Committee on the Philippines, to consist of fourteen Sena- 
tors. 

A Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, to consist of 
sixteen Senators. 

A Committee on Printing, to consist of eight Senators, which 
shall have power to act jointly with the same committee of the 
House of Representatives. 

* Provided for by Senate Resolution of April 29, 191 2, Sixty-second 
Congress, second session. 



26 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

A Committee on Private Land Claims, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

A Committee on Privileges and Elections, to consist of fifteen 
Senators. 

A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to consist of 
sixteen Senators, which shall have power to act jointly with the 
same committee of the House of Representatives. 

A Committee on Public Health and National Quarantine, to 
consist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Public Lands, to consist of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Railroads, to consist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Revolutionary Claims, to consist of five 
Senators. 

A Committee on Rules, to consist of eight Senators. , 

A Committee on Standards, Weights, and Measures, to con- 
sist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Territories, to consist of twelve Senators. 

A Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard, to 
consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Transportation and Sale of Meat Products, 
to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on the University of the United States, to con- 
sist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Woman Suffrage, to consist of five Senators. 

2. The Committees to Audit and Control the Contingent Ex- 
penses of the Senate, on Printing, and on the Library, shall 
continue and have the power to act until their successors are 
appointed. 

RULE XXVI. 

REFERENCE TO COMMITTEES; MOTIONS TO DISCHARGE, AND 
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES TO UE OVER. 

i. When motions are made for reference of a subject to a 
select committee, or to a standing committee, the question of 



Standi?ig Rules of the Senate, 27 

reference to a standing committee shall be put first; and a 
motion simply to refer shall not be open to amendment, except 

tO add instructions. [Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XXVI, XXXIII. 

2. All reports of committees and motions to discharge a com- 
mittee from the consideration of the subject, and all subjects 
from which a committee shall be discharged, shall lie over one 
day for consideration, unless by unanimous consent the Senate 

Shall Otherwise direct. [Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XxVII, XIJII. 

RULE XXVII. 

REPORTS OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEES. 

The presentation of reports of committees of conference shall 
always be in order, except when the Journal is being read or a 
question of order or a motion to adjourn is pending, or while the 
Senate is dividing; and when received the question of proceeding 
to the consideration of the report, if raised, shall be immediately 
put, and shall be determined without debate. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XI, VI. 

RULE XXVIII. 

MESSAGES. 

1. Messages from the President of the United States or from 
the House of Representatives may be received at any stage of 
proceedings, except while the Senate is dividing, or while the 
Journal is being read, or while a question of order or a motion 

tO adjourn is pending. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XI, VII. 

2. Messages shall be sent to the House of Representatives by 
the Secretary, who shall previously certify the determination of 
the Senate upon all bills, joint resolutions, and other resolutions 
which may be communicated to the House, or in which its con- 
currence may be requested; and the Secretary snail also certify 
and deliver to the President of the United States all resolutions 
and other communications which may be directed to him by the 

Senate. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XI, VII. 



28 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

RULE XXIX. 

PRINTING OF PAPERS, ETC. - 

i . Every motion to print documents, reports, and other matter 
transmitted by either of the Executive Departments, or to print 
memorials, petitions, accompanying documents, or any other 
paper, except bills of the Senate or House of Representatives, 
resolutions submitted by a Senator, communications from the 
legislatures or conventions, lawfully called, of the respective 
States, and motions to print by order of the standing or select 
committees of the Senate, shall, unless the Senate otherwise 
order, be referred to the Committee on Printing. When a mo- 
tion is made to commit with instructions, it shall be in order to 
add thereto a motion to print. 

2. Motions to print additional numbers shall also be referred 
to the Committee on Printing; and when the committee shall 
report favorably, the report shall be accompanied by an estimate 
of the probable cost thereof; and when the cost of printing 
such additional numbers shall exceed the sum of five hundred 
dollars, the concurrence of the House of Representatives shall 
be necessary for an order to print the same. 

3. Every bill and joint resolution introduced on leave or 
reported from a committee, and all bills and joint resolutions 
received from the House of Representatives, and all reports of 
committees, shall be printed, unless, for the dispatch of the 
business of the Senate, such printing may be dispensed with. 

RULE XXX. 

WITHDRAWAL OF PAPERS. 

I. No memorial or other paper presented to the Senate, 
except original treaties finally acted upon, shall be withdrawn 
from its files except by order of the Senate. But when an act 
may pass for the settlement of any private claim, the Secretary 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 29 

is authorized to transmit to the officer charged with the settle- 
ment the papers on file relating to the claim. 

2. No memorial or other paper upon which an adverse report 
has been made shall be withdrawn from the files of the Senate 
unless copies thereof shall be left in the office of the Secretary. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XVI. 

RULE XXXI. 

REFERENCE OF CLAIMS ADVERSELY REPORTED. 

Whenever a committee of the Senate, to whom any claim has 
been referred, reports adversely, and the report is agreed to, it 
shall not be in order to move to take the papers from the files 
for the purpose of referring them at a subsequent session, un- 
less the claimant shall present a petition therefor, stating that 
new evidence has been discovered since the report, and setting 
forth the substance of such new evidence. But when there has 
been no adverse report it shall be the duty of the Secretary to 
transmit all such papers to the committee in which such claims 
are pending. 

RULE XXXII. 

BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM SESSION TO SESSION. 

At the second or any subsequent session of a Congress, the 
legislative business of the Senate which remained undetermined 
at the close of the next preceding session of that Congress shall 
be resumed and proceeded with in the same manner as if no 
adjournment of the Senate had taken place; and all papers 
referred to committees and not reported upon at the close of a 
session of Congress shall be returned to the office of the Secre- 
tary of the Senate, and be retained by him until the next suc- 
ceeding session of that Congress, when they shall be returned 
to the several committees to which they had previously been 

referred. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. U. 



30 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

RULE XXXIII. 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR. 

No person shall be admitted to the floor of the Seriate while 
in session, except as follows: 

The President of the United States and his private secretary. 

The President elect and Vice-President elect of the United 
States. 

Ex- Presidents and ex- Vice- Presidents of the United States. 

Judges of the Supreme Court. 

Ex-Senators and Senators elect. 

The officers and employees of the Senate in the discharge of 
their official duties. 

Ex-Secretaries and ex-Sergeants-at-Arms of the Senate. 

Members of the House of Representatives and Members 
elect. 

Ex-Speakers of the House of Representatives. 

The Sergeant-at-Arms of the House and his chief deputy 
and the Clerk of the House and his deputy. 

Heads of the Executive Departments. 

Ambassadors and Ministers of the United States. 

Governors of States and Territories. 

The General Commanding the Army. 

The Senior Admiral of the Navy on the active list. 

Members of National Legislatures of foreign countries. 

Judges of the Court of Claims. 

Commissioners of the District of Columbia. 

The Librarian of Congress and the Assistant Librarian in 
charge of the Law Library. 

The Architect of the Capitol. 

The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Standi?ig Rules of the Senate. 31 

Clerks to Senate committees and clerks to Senators when in 
the actual discharge of their official duties. Clerks to Senators, 
to be admitted to the floor, must be regularly appointed and 
borne upon the rolls of the Secretary of the Senate as such. 

RULE XXXIV. 

REGULATION OF THE SENATE WING OF THE CAPITOL . 

i. The Senate Chamber shall not be granted for any other 
purpose than for the use of the Senate. 

2. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Rules to make 
all rules and regulations respecting such parts of the Capitol, 
its passages and galleries, including the restaurant, as are or 
may be set apart for the use of the Senate and its officers, to be 
enforced under the direction of the Presiding Officer. They 
shall, at the opening of each session of Congress, make such 
regulations respecting the reporters' gallery of the Senate as 
will confine its occupation to bona fide reporters for daily 
newspapers, assigning not to exceed one seat to each paper. 

RULE XXXV. 

SESSION WITH CLOSED DOORS. 

On a motion made and seconded to close the doors of the 
Senate, on the discussion of any business which may, in the 
opinion of a Senator, require secrecy, the Presiding Officer shall 
direct the galleries to be cleared; and during the discussion of 
such motion the doors shall remain closed. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XVIII. 

RULE XXXVI. 

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. 

i. When the President of the United States shall meet the 
Senate in the Senate Chamber for the consideration of Execu- 
tive business, he shall have a seat on the right of the Presiding 
Officer. When the Senate shall be convened by the President 



32 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

of the United States to any other place, the Presiding Officer 
of the Senate and the Senators shall attend at the place 
appointed, with the necessary officers of the Senate. 

*2. When acting upon confidential or Executive business, 
unless the same shall be considered in open Executive session, 
the Senate Chamber shall be cleared of all persons except the 
Secretary, the Chief Clerk, the Principal Legislative Clerk, the 
Executive Clerk, the Minute and Journal Clerk, the Sergeant- 
at-Arms, the Assistant Doorkeeper, and such other officers as 
the Presiding Officer shall think necessary; and. all such offi- 
cers shall be sworn to secrecy. 

t3. All confidential communications made by the President of 
the United States to the Senate shall be by the Senators and the 
officers of the Senate kept secret; and all treaties which may be 
laid before the Senate, and all remarks, votes, and proceedings 
thereon shall also be kept secret, until the Senate shall, by their 

*In Executive session, May 2, 1892: 

Resolved, That until otherwise ordered there shall be admitted to the 
floor of the Senate during Executive sessions such clerks, not exceeding 
three in number, as may be assigned by the Secretary of the Senate to 
Executive duties. 

fin Executive session, March 21, 1885: 

Ordered, That the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following 
report from the Committee on Rules, viz: 

The Committee on Rules, to which was referred a question of order raised 
by the Senator from Maine (Mr. Frye) as to the operation of clause 3, Rule 
XXXVI, reported that it extends the injunction of secrecy to each step in 
the consideration of treaties, including the fact of ratification; that no 
modification of this clause of the rules ought to be made; that the secrecy 
as to the fact of ratification of a treaty may be of the utmost importance, 
and ought not to be removed except by order of the Senate, or until it has 
been made public by proclamation by the President. 

In Executive session, February 8, 1900: 

Ordered, Whenever the injunction of secrecy shall be removed from 
any part of the proceedings of the Senate in Executive session, or secret 
legislative session, the order of the Senate removing the same shall be 
entered by the Secretary in the Legislative Journal as well as in the 
Executive Journal, and shall be published in the Record. 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 33 

resolution, take off the injunction of secrecy, or unless the same 
shall be considered in open Executive session. 

[Jefferson's Manual, Sec. 1,11. 

4. Any Senator or officer of the Senate who shall disclose the 
secret or confidential business or proceedings of the Senate shall 
be liable, if a Senator, to suffer expulsion from the body; and if 
an officer, to dismissal from the service of the Senate, and to 
punishment for contempt. 

5. Whenever, by the request of the Senate or any committee 
thereof, any documents or papers shall be communicated to the 
Senate by the President or the head of any Department relating 
to any matter pending in the Senate, the proceedings in regard 
to which are secret or confidential under the rules, said docu- 
ments and papers shall be considered as confidential, and shall 
not be disclosed without leave of the Senate. 

RULE XXXVII. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION — PROCEEDINGS ON TREATIES. 

1. When a treaty shall be laid before the Senate for ratification, 
it shall be read a first time; and no motion in respect to it shall 
be in order, except to refer it to a committee, to print it in con- 
fidence for the use of the Senate, to remove the injunction of 
secrecy, or to consider it in open Executive session. 

When a treaty is reported from a committee with or with- 
out amendment, it shall, unless the Senate unanimously other- 
wise direct, lie one day for consideration; after which it 
may be read a second time and considered as in Committee 
of the Whole, when it shall be proceeded with by articles, 
and the amendments reported by the committee shall be first 
acted upon, after which other amendments may be proposed; 
52578 — 12 3 



34 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

and when through with, the proceedings had as in Commit- 
tee of the Whole shall be reported to the Senate, when the 
question shall be, if the treaty be amended, "Will the Sen- 
ate concur in the amendments made in Committee of the 
Whole?" And the amendments may be taken separately, or 
in gross, if no Senator shall object; after which new amend- 
ments may be proposed. At any stage of such proceedings the 
Senate may remove the injunction of secrecy from the treaty, 
or proceed with its consideration in open Executive session. 

The decisions thus made shall be reduced to the form of a 
resolution of ratification, with or without amendments, as the 
case may be, which shall be proposed on a subsequent day, 
unless, by unanimous consent, the Senate determine other- 
wise; at which stage no amendment shall be received, unless 
by unanimous consent. 

On the final question to advise and consent to the ratification 
in the form agreed to, the concurrence of two-thirds of the Sena- 
tors present shall be necessary to determine it in the affirmative; 
but all other motions and questions upon a treaty shall be decided 
by a majority vote, except a motion to postpone indefinitely, 
which shall be decided by a vote of two-thirds. 

2. Treaties transmitted by the President to the Senate for 
ratification shall be resumed at the second or any subsequent 
session of the same Congress at the stage in which they were 
left at the final adjournment of the session at which they 
were transmitted; but all proceedings on treaties shall termi- 
nate with the Congress, and they "shall be resumed at the 
commencement of the next Congress as if no proceedings 
had previously been had thereon. 

3. All treaties concluded with Indian tribes shall be con- 
sidered and acted upon by the Senate in its open or legislative 



Sta?iding Rules of the Seriate. 35 

session, unless the same shall be transmitted by the President 
to the Senate in confidence, in which case they shall be acted 

Upon with closed doors. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. 1,11. 

RULE XXXVIII. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION — PROCEEDINGS ON NOMINATIONS.* 

i . When nominations shall be made by the President of the 
United States to the Senate, they shall, unless otherwise 
ordered, be referred to appropriate committees; and the final 
question on every nomination shall be, "Will the Senate 
advise and consent to this nomination?" which question shall 
not be put on the same day on which the nomination is 
received, nor on the day on which it may be reported by a 
committee, unless by unanimous consent. 

2. All information communicated or remarks made by 
a Senator when acting upon nominations, concerning the 
character or qualifications of the person nominated, also all 
votes upon any nomination, shall be kept secret. If, how- 
ever, charges shall be made against a person nominated, the 

*In Executive session, December 16, 1885: 

Resolved, All nominations to office shall be prepared for the printer by 
the Official Reporter, and printed in the Record, after the proceedings of 
the day in which they are received, also nominations recalled, confirma- 
tions, and rejections. 

In Executive session, December 17, 1885: 

Ordered, The Secretary shall furnish the Official Reporters with a list 
of nominations to office after the proceedings of the day on which they 
are received, and a like list of all confirmations and rejections. 

In Executive session, May 2, 1894: 

Resolved, The Secretary shall furnish to the press, and to the public 
upon request, the names of nominees confirmed or rejected on the day on 
which a final vote shall be had, except when otherwise ordered by the 
Senate. 



36 Standing Rules of the Senate. 

committee may, in its discretion, notify such nominee thereof, 
but the name of the person making such charges shall not 
be disclosed. The fact that a nomination has been made, or 
that it has been confirmed or rejected, shall not be regarded 
as a secret. 

3. When a nomination is confirmed or rejected, any Senator 
voting in the majority may move for a reconsideration on the 
same day on which the vote was taken, or on either of the 
next two days of actual Executive session of the Senate; but 
if a notification of the confirmation or rejection of a nomi- 
nation shall have been sent to the President before the 
expiration of the time within which a motion to reconsider 
may be made, the motion to reconsider shall be accompanied 
by a motion to request the President to return such notifica- 
tion to the Senate. Any motion to reconsider the vote on a 
nomination may be laid on the table without prejudice to the 
nomination, and shall be a final disposition of such motion. 

4. Nominations confirmed or rejected by the Senate shall not 
be returned by the Secretary to the President until the expira- 
tion of the time limited for making a motion to reconsider the 
same, or while a motion to reconsider is pending, unless other- 
wise ordered by the Senate. 

5. When the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for more 
than thirty days, all motions to reconsider a vote upon a nomi- 
nation which has been confirmed or rejected by the Senate, 
which shall be pending at the time of taking such adjourn- 
ment or recess, shall fall; and the Secretary shall return all 
such nominations to the President as confirmed or rejected by 
the Senate, as the case may be. 

6. Nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the 
session at which they are made shall not be acted upon at any 



Standing Rules of the Senate. 37 

succeeding session without being again made to the Senate by 
the President; and if the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess 
for more than thirty days, all nominations pending and not 
finally acted upon at the time of taking such adjournment or 
recess shall be returned by the Secretary to the President, and 
shall not again be considered unless they shall again be made 
to the Senate by the President. 

RULE XXXIX. 

THE PRESIDENT FURNISHED WITH COPIES OF RECORDS OF 
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. 

The President of the United States shall, from time to time, 
be furnished with an authenticated transcript of the Executive 
records of the Senate, but no further extract from the Exec- 
utive Journal shall be furnished by the Secretary, except by 
special order of the Senate; and no paper, except original 
treaties transmitted to the Senate by the President of the 
United States, and finally acted upon by the Senate, shall be 
delivered from the office of the Secretary without an order of 
the Senate for that purpose. 

RULE XL. 

SUSPENSION AND AMENDMENT OF THE RULES. 

No motion to suspend, modify, or amend any rule, or any 
part thereof, shall be in order, except on one day's notice in 
writing, specifying precisely the rule or part proposed to be sus- 
pended, modified, or amended, and the purpose thereof. Any 
rule may be suspended without notice by the unanimous con- 
sent of the Senate, except as otherwise provided in clause 1, 
Rule XII. 



38 Standi?ig Rules of the Senate. 

OATHS REQUIRED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND 
BY LAW TO BE TAKEN UNDER RULE II. 

BY SENATORS. 

I, A B, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the 
Constitution of the United States. [June i, 1789, 1 stat., 23. 

I, A B, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support 
and defend the Constitution of the United States against all 
enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and 
allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, with- 
out any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I 
will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on 
which I am about to enter: So help me God. 

[July ii, 1868, 15 Stat., 85. 
BY THE SECRETARY. 

I, A B, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the 
Constitution of the United States. 
And in addition to the foregoing he will also take the following: 
I, A B, Secretary of the Senate of the United States of 
America, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will truly and 
faithfully discharge the duties of my said office, to the best of 
my knowledge and abilities. [June 1, 1789, 1 stat., 23. 



INDEX TO THE STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 



A. 

Rule. Clause. Pag«. 

Absent himself from the service of the Senate without leave. 

No Senator shall 5 1 7 

Absent Senators. Less than a quorum may request or com- 
pel the attendance of 5 3 7 

Additional numbers of a document shall be referred to the 

Committee on Printing. All motions to print 29 2 28 

Where the cost shall exceed five hundred dollars, the 
concurrence of the House of Representatives shall be 

necessary 29 2 28 

Adjourn. A motion to, shall have precedence of all other 

motions 22 - 20 

Adjourn to a day certain shall be second in the order of pre- 
cedence of motions. A motion to 22 - 20 

Admission to the floor of the Senate. Persons entitled to . . . 33 - 30 
Amendment, when proposed to any pending measure, is laid 
on the table, it shall not carry with it or prejudice such 

measure 17 - 18 

When a question is pending, a motion may be made to 

amend 22 - 20 

Amendments. When a question contains several points, a 

division may be called for 18 - 18 

But a motion to strike out and insert shall not be divided .18 - 18 
Rejection of a motion to strike out and insert shall not 

prevent a motion simply to strike out 18 - 18 

Nor shall the rejection of a motion to strike out prevent 

a motion to strike out and insert 18 - 18 

In a motion to strike out and insert, the part to be stricken 
out and the part to be inserted shall each be regarded 
as a question for 18 - 18 

39 



40 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Amendments. It shall not be in order on the third reading of a 

bill to offer an amendment except by unanimous consent. 15 2 16 
Amendments to general appropriation bills. No amendment 
shall be received which will increase an appropriation 
in the bill, unless 16 1 16 

No amendment adding a new item to the bill, unless to 
carry out existing law or treaty stipulation, shall be 
received . . 16 1 17 

Amendments must be moved by direction of a commit- 
tee or in pursuance of an estimate of the head of a de- 
partment 16 1 17 

All amendments moved by direction of a committee must 
be referred one day before being offered to the Commit- 
tee on Appropriations 16 2 17 

No amendment to an amendment increasing the appro- 
priation therein shall be received 16 2 17 

Amendments to river and harbor bills shall also be re- 
ferred before being offered 16 2 17 

Amendments to post-road bills shall also be referred be- 
fore being offered 16 2 17 

No amendment proposing general legislation shall be 
received 16 3 17 

No amendment not relevant or germane to the subject- 
matter of the bill shall be received T 16 3 17 

An amendment to a general appropriation bill may be 

laid on the table , 16 3 17 

No amendment to provide for a private claim shall be 

received, unless 16 4 18 

Amendments to treaties shall be determined by a majority 

vote. All questions of 37 1 33 

Anthony rule. Known as the 8 - 11 

Appeals^ in questions of order. Every question of order de- 
cided by the Chair shall be subject to an appeal to the 
Senate 20 1 19 

When an appeal is pending, any question of order or 
appeal that may afterwards arise shall be decided with- 
out debate 20 1 19 

If an appeal be laid on the table, it shall be held as affirm- 
ing the decision of the Chair 20 1 20 

Appropriation bills. (See General appropriation bills.) 
Attendance of absent Senators. The Sergeant-at-Arms may 

be directed to request, and, if necessary, compel the ... 5 3 7 



bidex to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 41 

B. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Ballot. The chairman and members of the standing commit- 
tees shall be appointed by 24 1 21 

A majority shall choose a chairman and a plurality the 

other members of a standing committee 24 1 21 

Bills and joint resolutions. Order in which the Chair shall 

call for, under ' ' morning business " 7 1 9 

Manner of introduction of pension bills, bills for the 
payment of private claims, or for the correction of 
naval or military records 7 2 9 

Bills or other matter sent to the Senate by the President 
or House of Representatives may at any time be laid 
before the Senate by the Presiding Officer or upon mo- 
tion 7 6 10 

Bills and resolutions, not objected to, to be taken up in 
their order 8 - 11 

To proceed to the consideration of, on the Calendar out 

of regular order, a privileged motion 9 - 12 

Whenever offered, their introduction shall, if objected to, 

be postponed for one day 14 1 14 

When presented may be postponed one day unless by 

unanimous consent 14 1 14 

Shall have three several readings before passage, which 
shall be on three different days unless by unanimous 
consent 14 2 14 

May be read twice on the same day for reference only. . . 14 3 15 

If not referred, they shall not be considered as in Com- 
mittee of the Whole, nor debated if objected to, but 
shall go on the Calendar 14 4 15 

All bills and joint resolutions reported from a committee 

shall also go on the Calendar 14 4 15 

Before amendment shall be considered as in Committte 

of the Whole 15 1 15 

When ordered to a third reading they shall not be open 

to amendment unless by unanimous consent 15 2 16 

But may be committed before the question is put upon 
the passage 15 2 16 

If committed when reported shall again go on the Calen- 
dar as bills in Committee of the Whole 15 2 16 

May be accompanied by a preamble, which may be with- 
drawn, or laid on the table 23 - 21 



42 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Bills. General appropriation bills. All general appro- 
priation bills shall be referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations, except river and harbor, agricul- 
tural, Army, Military Academy, Indian, Naval, 

pension, and Post-Office 16 i 16 

Limitations to amendments which may be proposed 

to 16 1-4 16- 

Amendments proposing new items of appropriation 

shall before being offered be referred 16 2 17 

No amendment proposing general legislation shall 

be proposed to any general appropriation bill 16 3 1/ 

No amendment to provide for a private claim shall be 

offered unless to carry out existing law 16 4 18 

Bills, private, may be referred to the Court of Claims. ... 15 3 16 

Business. Order of morning 7 1 9 

Business of the Senate continued from session to session. 

The legislative 32 - 29 

C. 

Calendar of general orders. At the expiration of the 

morning business, the Senate shall take up the .... 8, 9 - 11-12 
Subjects on the Calendar to be taken up in their order. 8, 9 - 11-12 
Bvery bill and joint resolution reported from a com- 
mittee, and bills and joint resolutions from the 
House of Representatives, read twice but not re- 
ferred, shall be placed on the 14 4 15 

To proceed to the consideration of any other bill on 

the, out of its order, a privileged motion 9 - 12 

To pass over the pending subject on the, a privileged 

motion 9 - 12 

To place pending subject at the foot of the, a privileged 

motion 9 - 12 

Call of the Senate. When a question is raised as to the 
presence of a quorum, the Chair shall direct the roll 

to be called 5 2 7 

Capitol building. The Senate wing of the Capitol build- 
ing, its corridors and passages, to be under the con- 
trol of the Committee on Rules 34 2 31 

Certificates of election of Senators to be recorded in well- 
bound book 6 2 8 

Chief Clerk, when to perform duties of the Chair 1 2 5 

Claims rejected by the Senate can not be again referred 

unless new evidence be presented 31 - 29 



Index to the Standing Rules of the Se?iate. 43 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Claims adversely reported on can not be withdrawn with- 
out leaving copies. Petitions and papers relating to 
private 30 2 29 

The papers may be sent to the proper officer by the Sec- 
retary. Where acts have passed for private 30 1 28 

Papers in relation to, to be transmitted by Secretary of 

Senate to committee having claim under consideration . 31 - 29 

After adverse report agreed to papers can not be with- 
drawn from Senate files unless on new evidence 31 - 29 

Closed doors. On the discussion of a subject which may re- 
quire secrecy, the galleries shall be cleared and the 

doors closed . 35 - 31 

Commit. After the third reading and before the passage of a 

bill a motion may be made to 15 2 16 

When a question is pending, the order stated in which a 

motion may be made to 22 - 20 

A motion to, not open to amendment except to add in- 
structions 26 1 26 

Committee of the Whole. All bills and joint resolutions 

shall, before passage, be first considered as in 15 1 15 

When a bill is recommitted and again reported, it shall 
be again taken up as in 15 2 16 

Treaties when acted upon in executive session shall be 

first considered as in 37 1 33 

Committee on Rules, to have control of Senate wing of the 

Capitol building, its corridors, etc 34 2 31 

Committees. Order in which the Chair shall call for reports of . 7 1 9 

The standing committees, unless otherwise ordered, shall 

be appointed by ballot 24 1 21 

A majority of votes necessary to the choice of a chairman . 24 1 21 

Select committees and the residue of the standing com- 
mittees may be chosen by a plurality 24 1 21 

Vacancies in committees when filled shall be only to fill 

up the number of members 24 2 21 

Enumeration of the standing committees to be appointed 

at the commencement of each Congress 25 1 22 

A motion to refer to a standing committee shall take pre- 
cedence of a motion to refer to a select committee .... 26 1 26 

A motion to refer shall not be open to amendment, except 
to add instructions 26 1 26 

All reports of committees shall lie one day for consider- 
ation 26 2 27 



44 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Committees to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of 
the Senate, on Printing, and on the Library, shall con- 
tinue and have power to act until their successors are 
appointed 25 2 26 

Committees of conference . Reports of committees of confer- 
ence shall be always in order, except, etc., and the 
question of their consideration shall be immediately 
put without debate 27 - 27 

Concurrent and other resolutions. Order in which the Chair 

shall call for, under ' ' morning business " 7 1 9 

Conference. Reports of committees of conference shall 
always be in order, and the question of their consider- 
ation be immediately put without debate 27 - 27 

Confidential communications from the President, and all 
treaties, proceedings, and remarks thereon, shall be 
kept secret 36 3 32 

Confidential business of the Senate. Penalties for disclosing 

the 36 4 33 

' Contingent fund of the Senate shall be referred to the Com- 
mittee on Contingent Expenses. All resolutions for the 
payment of money from the 25 1 22 

Court of Claims. To refer private bills to the 15 3 16 

Credentials of Senators elect shall always be in order, and be 
proceeded with until disposed of by the Senate. The 
presentation of '. 6 1 7 

D. 

Daily sessions. Commencement of 3 - 6 

Day certain. When a question is pending, a motion may be 

made to postpone to a 22 - 20 

Debate. If a Senator in speaking, or otherwise, transgress 
the rules, the Presiding Officer shall, or any Senator 
may, call him to order 19 4 19 

When called to order he shall sit down, and shall not pro- 
ceed without leave of the Senate 19 4 19 

If leave be granted to proceed, it shall be on motion, and 

determined without 19 4 19 

If a Senator be called to order for words spoken in debate, 
the exceptionable words, if required, shall be taken 
down 19 5 19 

The Presiding Officer shall name the Senator who is to 
speak, who, in all cases, shall be the Senator who shall 
first address the Chair „ 19 1 18 



Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 45 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Debate. No Senator shall interrupt another without his con- 
sent, to obtain which he shall first address the Chair . . 19 1 19 

No Senator shall impute to another Senator any conduct 

or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator 19 2 19 

NoSenator shall refer offensively toanyState of the Union. 19 3 19 

No Senator shall speak more than twice on any one ques- 
tion on the same day without leave of the Senate, to 
be determined without 19 1 19 

Upon the merits of the question. A motion to take up a 

subject shall be decided without 7 3 10 

Petitions and memorials to be presented and referred 

without 7 5 10 

No Senator to speak but once, and for five minutes only, on 

bills and resolutions upon the Calendar not objected to . 8 - II 

A motion to lay before the Senate any bill or other mat- 
ter sent to the Senate by the President or House of 
Representatives shall be decided without 7 6 10 

A motion made before 2 o'clock to proceed to the con- 
sideration of any matter shall be determined without. . 8 - II 

A motion to change the order of special orders or to pro- 
ceed to the consideration of other business shall be 

decided without 10 2 13 

Decision is announced. No Senator shall, under any circum- 
stances, be permitted to vote after a 12 1 13 

But he may, for special reasons, by unanimous consent, 

change or withdraw his vote after a 12 1 13 

Any motion or resolution may be withdrawn, except a 
motion to reconsider before an amendment, ordering 

the yeas and nays, or before a 21 2 20 

Discharge of a committee . A motion to discharge a commit- 
tee from a subject shall lie one day for consideration. .26 2 27 

All subjects from which a committee shall be discharged 

shall also lie one day for consideration 26 2 27 

Divisiofi of a question. If the question in debate contain 

several points any Senator may have the same divided 18 - 18 

A motion to strike out and insert shall not be divided. 18 - 18 

Doors to be closed. On the discussion of any business which 
may in the opinion of a Senator require secrecy, upon 
a motion made the Presiding Officer shall direct the . . 35 - 31 

E. 

Exceptionable words shall be taken down. If a Senator be 

called to order for words spoken in debate, the 19 5 19 



46 Index to the Standing- Rules of the Senate. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Excused from voting. In calling the yeas and nays, each 
Senator, when his name is called, shall answer without 

debate, unless for special reasons he be 12 1 13 

Excused from voting. When reasons shall be assigned for not 
voting, their sufficiency shall be determined without 
debate 12 2 13. 

These proceedings shall be after the roll is called, and 

before the decision is announced 12 2 13, 

Executive business shall be decided without debate. A mo- 
tion to proceed to consideration of 22 - 21 

The President shall have a seat on the right of the Chair 

when he shall meet the Senate for consideration of . . . 36 1 31 

The Senate shall be cleared of all persons except the offi- 
cers in attendance (who shall be sworn to secrecy) when 
acting upon 36 2 32 

Unless the Senate is in open Executive session 36 2 32: 

All confidential communications made by the President, 
and all treaties, and remarks, votes, and proceedings 
thereon, shall be kept secret, except as provided 36 3 32 

Any person who shall disclose the secret proceedings of 
the Senate shall, if a Senator, be liable to expulsion; if 
an officer, to dismissal 36 4 33 

All documents or papers communicated to the Senate by 
the President or the head of any Department, relating 
to any matter secret or confidential under the rules,' 
shall be considered as confidential 36 5 33 

Proceedings upon treaties. (See Treaties.) 

Proceedings upon nominations. (See Nominations.') 
Executive record. The President shall, from time to time, 

be furnished with an authenticated transcript of the . . 39 - 37 

No further extracts shall be furnished by the Secretary 

without an order of the Senate 39 - 37 

Executive proceedings of the Senate shall be kept in a sepa- 
rate book 4 2 7 

Extra copies of documents shall be referred to the Committee 

on Printing. Motion to print 29 2 2& 

When the cost of additional copies shall exceed five hun- 
dred dollars the concurrence of the House shall be 

necessary 29 2 28 

Extracts from the Executive Journal shall not be given with- 
out an order of the Senate 39 - 37 



Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 47 

F. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Floor of the Senate. Persons entitled to admission to the ... 33 - 30 



Galleries to be cleared and the doors closed, on discussing a 

question requiring secrecy. The Chair shall direct the . 35 - 31 
General appropriation bills. All general appropriation bills 
shall be referred to the Committee on Appropriations, 
except the bill making appropriations for rivers and 
harbors, the agricultural bill, the Army and the Mili- 
tary Academy bills, the Indian bill, the naval bill, the 
pensionbill, and the Post-Office bill 16 1 16 

To proceed to the consideration of, a privileged motion. 9 - 12 

Amendments to. No amendments shall be received 
which shall increase the appropriation, unless to carry 
out some existing law or resolution of the Senate, or by 
direction of a standing or select committee, or in pur- 
suance of an estimate of the head of a Department .... 16 1 16 

All amendments proposing to increase an appropriation 
shall one day previous to being offered be referred to 
the Committtee on Appropriations 16 2 17 

No amendment shall be proposed to an amendment 

increasing the amount in such amendment 16 2 17 

Amendments moved by direction of a committee shall be 

first referred to the Committee on Appropriations 16 2 17 

No amendment proposing general legislation, or that is 
not germane or relevant to the subject of the bill, shall 
be received 16 3 17 

No amendment to any item or clause that does not 

directly relate thereto shall be received 16 3 17. 

All questions of relevancy of amendments shall be decided 

by the Senate without debate 16 3 17 

No amendment providing for a private claim, unless to 

carry out a law or treaty stipulation, shall be received. 16 4 18 

Any amendment to a general appropriation bill may be 

laid on the table 16 3 17 

General legislation to general appropriation bills. No amend- 
ment shall be admitted proposing 16 3 17 

General orders. (See Calendar.) 

Germane. No amendment to any appropriation bill shall be 

offered which is not relevant or 16 3 17 



48 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

I. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Impeachment, court of. Proceedings recorded 4 2 7 

Indefinite postponement. When a question is pending, a 

motion may be made for 22 - 20 

Indian treaties shall, unless transmitted by the President in 

confidence, be acted upon in legislative session 37 3 34 

Injunction of secrecy. All confidential communications from 
the President, and all treaties, and remarks and pro- 
ceedings thereon, are embraced within the 36 3 32 

All information given or remarks made by a Senator 
touching the character or qualifications of a nominee, 

and all votes on a nomination, are within the 38 2 35 

A person nominated may be notified of charges made 
against him, but the name of the person making them 

shall not be disclosed 38 2 35 

A Senator disclosing the confidential or secret business 

of the Senate shall be liable to expulsion 36 4 33 

An officer of the Senate committing a like offense shall 

be dismissed and punished for contempt 36 4 33 

J- 

Journal. A quorum being present, the Journal of the pre- 
vious day's session shall be read, and any mistake in 
the entries corrected 3 

The reading of the, shall not be suspended unless by 
unanimous consent . .'. 3 

A motion to amend the Journal shall be deemed a privi- 
leged question and be proceeded with until disposed of . 3 

The proceedings of the Senate shall be briefly and accu- 
rately stated on the 4 

Bvery vote of the Senate, and a brief statement of each 
memorial or paper presented, shall be entered on the . . 4 

The legislative, executive, and impeachment proceedings 

of the Senate shall be each recorded in a separate 4 2 7 

L. 

Laid on the table. The preamble to a bill or resolution may, 

without carrying the bill or resolution, be 23 - 21 

A motion to reconsider may be, without carrying the sub- 
ject, and shall be a final disposition thereof 13 1 14 

An amendment to a general appropriation bill may be. . 16 3 17 

An appeal from the decision of the Chair may be 20 1 20 

When a question is pending, a motion may be made to lay 

on the table, which shall be decided without debate. . . 22 - 20 



Index to the Sta?idi?ig Rules of the Senate. 49 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Leave to introduce a bill. May be offered if no objection. 14 1 14 

Leave of the Senate. A motion to reconsider shall not be 

withdrawn without 21 2 20 

Leave of the Senate. No Senator shall absent himself from 

the service of the Senate without 5 1 7 

No Senator shall speak more than twice on any one ques- 
tion on the same day without 19 1 19 

A Senator when called to order shall sit down and shall 

not proceed without 19 4 19 

No memorial or other paper, except original treaties, 

shall be withdrawn without ! 30 1 28 

Legislative business. The legislative business of the Senate 
shall be continued from session to session of the same 

Congress 32 - 29 

The legislative proceedings of the Senate shall be recorded 

in a separate book 4 2 7 

M. 

Majority. A motion to reconsider a vote may be decided 

by a 13 1 14 

All questions upon a treaty, except on the question of 
ratification, and on a motion to postpone indefinitely, 

shall be by a 37 1 34 

Memorials and petitions shall be referred without putting the 

question 7 4 10 

Before being presented or read they shall be signed, in- 
dorsed with a brief statement of their contents, and 
referred without debate 7 5 10 

Manner of presentation of 7 2 9 

Of foreign citizens or subjects shall not be received unless 

through the President 7 5 10 

Where an adverse report has been made they shall not be 

withdrawn, unless copies are left with the Secretary . . 30 2 29 

Shall not be withdrawn from the files without leave of 

the Senate 30 1 28 

When an act has passed for the settlement of a private 
claim, the Secretary may transmit the papers to the 

accounting officers 30 1 28 

Merits of the question proposed to be considered. It shall 

not be in order to discuss the 7 3 10 

Messages from the President and from the House of Repre- 
sentatives may be received at any stage of the proceed- 
ings except 28 1 27 

52578 — 12 4 



50 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Messages to the House and communications to the President 

shall be taken by the Secretary 28 2 27 

Morning business. Order in which it is laid before the Sen- 
ate, after the Journal is read 7 1 9 

Until concluded, or until 1 o'clock, no motion to proceed 
to the consideration of any bill, resolution, etc., upon 
the Calendar shall be entertained unless by unanimous 
consent, and shall not be subject to amendment, and 
shall be decided without debate on the merits of the 
subject 7 3 10 

At the conclusion of the, for each day, unless otherwise 
ordered, the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions shall be 
proceeded with until 2 o'clock . a 8 - 11 

The order of, which shall not be interrupted, unless by 

unanimous consent, prescribed 7 1 9 

No motion to proceed to the consideration of subjects 
on the Calendar shall be received, except by unani- 
mous consent, during the , . . 7 3 10 

A motion received by unanimous consent to take up a 
subject shall not be open to amendment, and shall be 
decided without debate on the merits of the question . . 7 3 10 
Morning hour. Terminates two hours after meeting of Senate. 8 - 11 
Motions. A motion to lay before the Senate bills or other 
matter sent to the Senate by the President or House of 
Representatives, in order at any time 7 6 10 

To reconsider shall be decided by a majority vote with- 
out debate 13 1 14 

Before a motion shall be debated it shall, if required, be 

reduced to writing 21 1 20 

Which may be made when a question is under considera- 
tion; their order and precedence 22 - 20 

A motion or resolution may be withdrawn or modified 
before a division, amendment, or ordering of the yeas 
and nays 21 2 20 

A motion to reconsider shall not be withdrawn without 

leave of the Senate 21 2 20 

A motion to discharge a committee shall lie over one day 

for consideration, unless by unanimous consent 26 2 27 

N. 

Nominations. The question on their confirmation shall not 
be put on the same day on which they are received, nor 
on the day on which they may be reported e . . . 38 1 35 



Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 51 

Rule. Clause. Pag-e. 

Nominations. Shall be prepared for the printer by the Offi- 
cial Reporter, and printed in the Record; also nomina- 
tions recalled, confirmations, and rejections 38 - 35 

The Secretary shall furnish the Official Reporters with a 
list of nominations, and a like list of all confirmations 
and rejections 38 - 35 

The Secretary shall furnish to the press, and to the public 
upon request, the names of nominees confirmed or 
rejected, except 38 - 35 

Discussions upon the character and qualifications of a 
nominee and the votes upon a nomination shall be 
kept secret 38 2 35 

The person nominated may be notified of charges against 
him, but the name of the party making them shall not 
be disclosed 38 2 35 

A motion to reconsider the vote on a nomination may be 

made within two days of actual session 38 3 36 

Notice of confirmation shall not be sent to the President 

until the expiration of two days of actual session 38 4 36 

When the President has been notified of a confirmation, 
•a motion to reconsider must be accompanied by a re- 
quest to the President to return the notification of con- 
firmation 38 3 36 

A motion to reconsider the vote on a nomination may be 

laid on the table, which shall be final 38 3 36 

Upon an adjournment of Congress, or a recess of more than 
thirty days, all motions to reconsider shall fall, and the 
nominations stand as confirmed or rejected, as the case 
may be 38 5 36 

Not confirmed or rejected at one session shall not be con- 
sidered at the next session unless renominated 38 6 36 

Upon an adjournment of Congress, or on taking a recess 
of thirty days, all nominations not finally acted upon 

shall be returned to the President 38 5 36 

O. 
Oaths of office. The oaths required by the Constitution and 
prescribed by law shall be taken and subscribed by Sen- 
ators in open Senate before entering upon their duties .2-6 
Order of business. After the conclusion of the morning busi- 
ness, prescribed 8 - 11 

After the consideration of cases not objected to upon the 
Calendar is completed, and not later than 2 o'clock, 
prescribed 9 - 11 



52 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Rule ; Clause. Page. 

Order in debate. When a Senator shall be called to order, he 
shall sit down, and shall not proceed without leave of 
the Senate, which shall be determined without debate . 19 4 19 

No Senator shall speak to or interrupt another without 
his consent, to obtain which he shall first address the 
Chair 19 1 19 

No Senator shall impute to another Senator any conduct 

or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator 19 2 19 

No Senator shall refer offensively to any State of the 

Union 19 3 19 

If a Senator be called to order for words spoken in de- 
bate, the exceptionable words, if required, shall be 
taken down 19 5 19 

The Presiding Officer shall name the Senator who is to 
speak, who shall in all cases be the one who shall first 
address the Chair 19 1 18 

No Senator shall speak more than twice on any one ques- 
tion on the same day without leave of the Senate, to be 
determined without debate 19 1 19 

A motion to take up a subject shall not be open to debate 

on the merits of the subject proposed to be considered. 7 3 10 
Order, questions of. A question of order may be raised at any 
time, and shall be decided by the Chair without de- 
bate 20 1 19 

An appeal may be taken from the decision of the Chair 

on a question of order 20 1 19 

The Chair may submit any question of order to the deci- 
sion of the Senate 20 2 20 

When an appeal is taken from the decision of the Chair, 
any subsequent question of order or appeal shall be 
decided without debate 20 1 19 

An appeal may be laid on the table, which shall be re- 
garded as sustaining the decision of the Chair 20 1 20 

P. 

Tapers. When the reading of a paper is called for, and ob- 
jection be made, it shall be submitted to the Senate 
without debate 11 - 13 

No papers, except original treaties, shall, without leave 

of the Senate, be withdrawn from its files 30 1 28 

When an act has passed for the settlement of a private 
claim, the Secretary may transmit the papers to the ac- 
counting officers 30 1 28 



Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 53 

Rule. Clause. Fage. 

Papers. When a claim has been adversely reported on, and 
the report be agreed to, the papers shall not be referred 

from the files without new evidence 31 - 29 

Where an adverse report has been made, papers shall not 
be withdrawn without leaving copies with the Secre- 
tary 30 2 29 

Pending measure. Amendment proposed to any, is laid on 
the table without carrying the measure to the table or 

prejudicing the same 17 - 18 

Petitions, before being presented, must be signed, indorsed 
with a brief statement of their contents, and referred 

without debate 7 5 10 

Manner of presentation of 7 2 9 

Order in which the Chair shall call for, in the morning hour. 719 
Order to print in Record covers body of petition only. . . 7 (Note) 10 
No petition or other paper signed by citizens or subjects 
of a foreign power shall be received unless through the 

President 7 5 10 

Bvery petition shall be referred without putting the ques- 
tion, unless there be objection 7 4 10 

Plurality of votes. Select committees and the members of 
standing committees (except the chairman) shall be 

elected by a 24 1 21 

Postpone indefinitely. When a question is pending, a motion 

may be made to , 22 - 20 

Preamble to a resolution. The question shall be first put 

upon the resolution, and last on the preamble 23 - 21 

To a resolution may be withdrawn before an amendment 
or ordering of the yeas and nays. It may also be laid 

on the table 23 - 21 

To a bill shall be last put to question, and may also be 

laid on the table 23 - 21 

President pro tempore. ( See Presiding Officer. ) 
Presiding Officer of the Senate. In the absence of the Vice- 
President, the Senate shall choose a President pro tem- 
pore 1 1 5 

Tenure of office of President pro tempo?-e 1 - 5 

In the absence of the Vice-President and pending the 
election of a President pro tempore, the Secretary, or, 
in his absence, the Chief Clerk, shall perform the 

duties of the Chair 1 2 5 

He shall have the right to name a Senator to occupy the 

Chair, who shall not hold beyond an adjournment except 135 



54 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Presiding Officer of the Senate. In the event of a vacancy in 
the office of Vice-President, he shall have the right to 
name a Senator to occupy the Chair i 4 5 

He may at any time lay before the Senate bills or other 
matter sent to the Senate by the President or House of 
Representatives 7 6 10 

The Presiding Officer shall decide every question of order 

without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate. ... 20 1 19 

He may submit any question of order without decision 

to the Senate 20 2 20 

Printing. Bvery motion to print, except to print bills, 
reports of committees, resolutions, communications 
from State legislatures and conventions, and motions 
to print, made by direction of committees, shall be 
referred to the Committee on 29 1 28 

All reports of committees, unless for the dispatch of busi- 
ness the printing be dispensed with, shall be printed. .29 3 28 

Motions to print additional numbers shall be referred to 
the Committee on 29 2 28 

When the cost of printing additional numbers shall 
exceed five hundred dollars, it shall be by concurrent 
resolution 29 2 28 

Bvery bill, joint resolution, and report of committee shall 

be printed unless 29 3 28 

Private bill. May be referred to Court of Claims 15 3 16 

Private claim. No memorial or other papers shall be with- 
drawn from the files without leave of the Senate 30 1 28 

Where a private act has passed, the Secretary may transmit 

the papers to the officer charged with the settlement. .30 1 28 

No private claim, which has been rejected, shall be again 

referred from the files without new evidence 31 - 29 

Where an adverse report has been made on a private claim, 

the papers shall not be withdrawn without leaving copies 30 2 29 

No amendment shall be proposed to any general appro- 
priation bill whose object is to provide for a 16 4 18 

Private secretary of Senator shall not be admitted to the floor 

until borne upon the rolls of the Secretary as such 33 - 31 

Privileged motions, save as against a motion to adjourn, to 
proceed to Executive business, or questions of privilege, 

and shall be decided without debate 9 - 12 

Privileges of the floor 33 - 30 

Q. 

Question of order shall be decided by the Chair, without 

debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate. Bvery 20 1 19 



Index to the Standiiig Rules of the Senate. 55 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Question of order. The Chair may submit any question of or- 
der to the decision of the Senate 20 2 20 

When an appeal is taken from the decision of the Chair, 
any subsequent question of order or appeal shall be de- 
cided without debate 20 1 19 

An appeal from the decision of the Chair may be laid on 
the table, which shall be held to affirm the decision of 

the Chair 20 1 20 

Question of privilege. A motion to amend or correct the 
Journal shall be deemed a, and shall be proceeded with 
until disposed of 3 1 6 

When in order 617 

Certain privileged motions may be submitted 9 - 12 

Question under debate contains several points, any Senator 

may call for a division. If the 18 - 18 

But a motion to strike out and insert shall not be divided .18 - 18 

But, pending a motion to strike out and insert, each part 
shall be regarded as a question; and the part to be 

stricken out shall be first open to amendment 18 - 18 

Quorum. The journal of the proceedings of the preceding 

day shall be read, there being present a 3 1 6 

Shall consist of a majority of the Senators duly chosen 

and sworn 3 2 6 

The presence of a quorum being questioned, the Chair 
shall direct the roll to be called to ascertain the pres- 
ence of a 5 2 7 

A majority of the Senators present may request or com- 
pel the attendance of Senators to make a 5 3 7 

Pending the execution of the order requiring the pres- 
ence of absent Senators, no debate or motion shall be 
in order but to adjourn 5 3 7 

R. 

Reading of a paper. When the reading of a paper is called 
for, and it be objected to, it shall be decided by the 
Senate without debate 11 - 13 

Recess. Pending the consideration of a question, a motion, 
which shall be decided without debate, may be made 
for a 22 - 20 

Recess of the Senate for more than thirty days. All nomina- 
tions and motions to reconsider nominations shall fall 
upon a 38 5 36 

Reconsideration. A motion to reconsider may be made by 

any Senator voting on the side that prevailed 13 1 21 



56 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Rule. Clause, Page. 

Reconsideration. A motion to reconsider may be made within 
the two next days of actual session, and shall be decided 
by a majority 13 1 14 

When a bill or other matter shall have gone out of the 
possession of the Senate, the motion to reconsider 
shall be accompanied by a request for the return of 
the same 13 2 14 

Which last motion shall be determined at once and with- 
out debate 13 2 14 

If the Senate shall refuse to reconsider a vote, or upon 
consideration shall reaffirm its first decision, it shall not 
be in order to move to reconsider 13 1 14 

A motion to reconsider may be laid on the table without 
- prejudice to the main question 13 1 14 

And if laid on the table, shall be a final disposition of 

the motion 13 1 14 

A motion to reconsider shall not be withdrawn without 

leave of the Senate 21 2 20 

A motion to reconsider a vote on a nomination may be 

laid on the table, and shall be final 38 3 36 

A motion to reconsider a vote on a nomination returned 
to the President must be accompanied by a request for 
its return to the Senate 38 3 36 

Motions to reconsider nominations shall fall, upon a recess 

of thirty days or on final adjournment 38 5 36 

Reduced to writing. Before a motion shall be debated, if re- 
quired, it shall be 21 1 20 

Reference to a committee. A motion to refer shall not be open 

to amendment unless it be to add instructions 26 1 26 

A motion to refer to a standing committee shall have 

precedence of a motion to refer to a select committee 26 1 26 

Every bill and joint resolution shall be read twice 

before 14 3 15 

Before the final vote on the passage of a bill or resolution 

it shall be in order to move its 15 2 16 

Relevant to the subject-matter thereof. No amendment shall 
be proposed to any general appropriation bill which 

shall not be germane or 16 3 17 

Reports of committees. The order in which they shall be 

called for by the Chair under ' ' morning business "... 7 1 9 

If objected to, the consideration of the report of a com- 
mittee shall lie over one day 26 2 27 



Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 57 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Reports of committees. All reports of committees shall be 
printed, unless for the dispatch of business the print- 
ing be dispensed with 29 3 28 

Reports of committees of conference shall always be in order, 
and when made the question of their consideration 
shall be immediately put and decided without debate . . 27 - 27 
Resolutions. The order in which they shall be called for 

by the Chair under "morning business " 7 1 9 

Not objected to, to be taken up in their order 8 - 11 

When accompanied by a preamble, the question shall be 
first put on the resolution, then on the preamble, which 
may be withdrawn or laid on the table 23 - 21 

A resolution may be withdrawn or modified by the mover 

before an amendment or ordering of the yeas and nays. 21 2 20 

A resolution to pay money out of the contingent fund shall 

be referred to the Committee on Contingent Expenses .25 1 22 

All resolutions shall, if their consideration be objected 

to, lie over one day 14 5 15 

Revenue bills, to proceed to the consideration of, a privileged 

motion 9 - 12 

Rules. No motion to suspend, modify, or amend any rule, 

except on one day's notice in writing 40 - 37 

Any rule may be suspended without notice by unanimous 

consent, except Rule XII 40 - 37 

But no motion shall be in order to suspend Rule XII, 

in respect to voting 40 - 37 

S. 

Secrecy. The galleries shall be cleared and the doors closed 

on the discussion of a question that may require 35 - 31 

All confidential communications from the President, and 
all treaties and debates and proceedings thereon, shall 
be kept secret 36 3 32 

All matters touching the character and qualifications of 
a nomination, and all votes and proceedings thereon, 
shall be kept secret 38 2 35 

Removal of injunction of secrecy from Report of Com- 
mittee on Rules 36 3 32 

Removal of injunction of secrecy from any part of the 
proceedings shall be entered in the Legislative Journal 
and Executive Journal, and published in the Record. .36 3 32 

A Senator disclosing the confidential or secret business of 

the Senate shall be liable to expulsion , . . 36 4 33 



58 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate, 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Secrecy. An officer of the Senate committing a like offense 

shall be dismissed and punished for a contempt 36 4 33 

All documents or papers communicated to the Senate by 
the President or the head of any Department, relating 
to any matter secret or confidential under the rules, 

shall be considered as confidential 36 5 33 

Secretary of Senate. When to perform duties of the Chair. .125 

To keep record of certificates of election of Senators 6 2 8 

To transmit papers in relation to claims to committee 

before whom claim is pending 31 - 29 

Senate Chamber. Shall not be granted for any other purpose 

than for the use of the Senate 34 1 31 

Senators. Not to absent themselves from the service of the 

Senate without leave 5 1 7 

Not to speak but once, and for five minutes only, on bills 

and resolutions on the Calendar not objected to 8 - 11 

Special orders. The unfinished business shall take preced- 
ence of the 10 1 12 

Consideration of the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions at 
the conclusion of morning business until 2 o'clock 

takes precedence of . . '. 8 - n 

Any subject may be made a special order by a vote of 

two-thirds 10 1 12 

Unless there be unfinished business, the Chair shall lay 

before the Senate the 10 l 12 

Special orders for same hour and day shall have preced- 
ence according to time at which they were made such. io 2 13 
Special orders shall not lose their character as such 

unless by a vote of the Senate 10 2 13 

Every special order shall, unless there be unfinished busi- 
ness, be called up when the hour assigned shall arrive. 10 1 12 
Speak more than twice in any one debate on the same day 

without leave of the Senate. No Senator shall 19 1 19 

Speak. The Presiding Officer shall name who is to speak, but 

the Senator first rising shall be first recognized 19 1 18 

Standing committees 25 - 22 

Standing Rules of Senate - - 5 

Suspension of the rules. One day's notice in writing required 

to suspend, amend, or modify any rule of the Senate. .40 - 37 
Rule XII, in relation to voting, shall never, under any 

circumstances, be suspended 40 - 37 



Index to the Sta?idi?ig Rules of the Senate. 59 

T. 

— Rule. Clause. Page. 

Table. An amendment to a general appropriation bill may- 
be laid on the 16 3 17 

A motion to reconsider may be laid on the 13 1 14 

And if carried shall be held to be a final disposition 

of the motion 13 1 14 

When an amendment proposed to any pending measure 
is laid on the, it shall not carry with it nor prejudice 
such measure 17 - 18 

When a question is pending, a motion may be made to 

lay on the, which shall be decided without debate. ... 22 - 20 

Preamble of a bill or resolution may be withdrawn or laid 

on the, without prejudice to the bill or resolution 23 - 21 

An appeal from the decision of the Chair may be laid on 

the 20 1 20 

If laid on the table, it shall be held as affirming the deci- 
sion of the Chair 20 1 20 

All resolutions, reports o\ committees, motions to dis- 
charge a committee, and subjects from which a com- 
mittee may be discharged shall lie over one day for 

consideration 26 2 27 

Treaties. When a treaty is laid before the Senate, no motion 
shall be made in reference to it but to refer or to print 
it, to remove injunction of secrecy, or to consider it in 
open Executive session 37 -i 33 

A treaty shall not be considered on the same day that it 

is reported, if objected to 37 1 33 

After being acted upon as in Committee of the Whole it 

shall be reported to the Senate 37 1 33 

When the question will be, if amended, on concurring in 
the amendments made in Committee of the Whole 37 1 33 

Injunction of secrecy may be removed at any stage of 
proceedings, or treaty may be considered in open Ex- 
ecutive session 37 1 33 

After which the resolution of ratification may be proposed 

on a subsequent day 37 1 33 

When the question shall be on the resolution of ratifica- 
tion, no amendment shall be in order 37 1 33 

The question of ratification and a motion to postpone in- 
definitely shall each require a vote of two-thirds 37 1 33 

All amendments and other motions may be decided by a 

majority 37 1 33 



60 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Treaties shall be resumed at the second or any subsequent ses- 
sion of same Congress, at the stage when last acted 
upon 37 2 34 

When proceedings shall terminate with a Congress, they 

shall be resumed de novo 37 2 34 

Indian treaties shall, unless transmitted by the Presi- 
dent in confidence, be acted upon in legislative session .37 3 34 

U. 

Unanimous consent. The reading of the Journal may be sus- 
pended by 3 1 6 

Until the morning business is concluded, no motion to 
proceed to any other subject shall be received, unless 
by 7 3 Ic > 

After a decision is announced, a Senator may change or 

withdraw his vote by 12 1 13 

When the Senate shall refuse to reconsider a vote, or reaf- 
firm its first decision, no motion to reconsider can be 
received but by " 13 1 14 

Bach bill shall receive three readings before passage on 

three different days, unless by 14 2 14 

A bill may be read twice for reference, but not considered 

as in Committee of the Whole, nor debated, unless by. 14 3 15 

No amendment shall be proposed to a bill on its third 

reading, unless by 15 2 16 

All resolutions shall lie over one day, unless by 14 5 15 

All resolutions, reports of committees, motions to dis- 
charge a committee, and subjects from which a com- 
mittee may be discharged, shall lie over one day, 
unless by 26 2 27 

Any rule of the Senate can be suspended without notice 

by, except as provided in. Rule XII 40 - 37 

Treaties shall not be acted upon on the day on which 

they are reported, unless by 37 1 33 

Resolution of ratification shall not be considered on the 

same day it is proposed, unless by 37 1 33 

Nominations shall not be confirmed on the day they are 

received, or on which reported, unless by 38 1 35 

Order of morning business changed only by 7 1 9 

Unfinished business shall have preference over the special 

orders 10 1 12 

Consideration of the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions at 
the conclusion of the morning business, until 2 o'clock, 
takes precedence of 8 - 11 



bidex to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 61 

Rule. Clause. Page 

Unfinished business of a session. The legislative business of 
the Senate shall be continued from session to session of 

the same Congress 32 - 29 

V. 
Vacancies in committees, when filled by the Presiding Officer, 
shall, unless otherwise ordered, be only to fill up the 

number on the committee 24 2 21 

Vice-President. In the absence of the Vice-President, the 

Senate shall choose a President pro tempore 1 1 5 

In the absence of the, and pending the election of a Presi- 
dent pro tempore, the Secretary, or, in his absence, the 

Chief Clerk, shall perform the duties of the Chair 125 

Voting. When the yeas and nays are called each Senator 
shall, unless excused from voting, answer when his 

name is called, without debate 12 1 13 

Proceedings when a Senator shall be called on for rea- 
sons for declining to vote shall be without debate 12 2 13 

Further proceedings shall not be had until after the re- 
sult is announced 12 2 13 

A Senator shall not be permitted to vote after the result 

is announced 12 1 13 

But he may, for special reasons, by unanimous consent, 

withdraw or change his vote 12 1 13 

W. 
Withdrawal of a motion or resolution. A resolution or mo- 
tion may be withdrawn at any time before amendment 

or ordering of the yeas and nays 21 2 20 

Preamble to a resolution may be withdrawn before amend- 
ment or ordering of the yeas and nays 23 - 21 

A motion to reconsider shall not be withdrawn without 

leave of the Senate 21 2 20 

Withdrawal of papers. No papers except original treaties 
shall be withdrawn from the files without leave of the 

Senate 30 1 28 

Where an act has passed for a private claim, the papers 

maybe sent by the Secretary to the accounting officers. 30 1 28 
No petition on which an adverse report has been made 

shall be withdrawn without leaving copies 30 2 29 

Claims adversely reported on shall not be again referred 

without new evidence 31 - 29 

Without debate. In ascertaining the presence of a quorum, 

the proceedings shall be 5 2 7 



62 Index to the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

Rule. Clause. Page. 

Without debate. Sergeant-at-Arms may be directed to re- 
quest or compel attendance of absent Senators 5 3 7 

The reading of a paper, when objected to, shall be de- 
cided 11 - 13 

A motion to request the House of Representatives to re- 
turn a bill shall be decided at once, and 13 2 14 

All questions of relevancy of amendments under Rule 

XVI shall be decided 16 3 17 

A motion to permit a Senator to proceed in order shall be 

decided 19 4 19 

A motion for leave to speak more than twice in one de- 
bate shall be decided 19 1 19 

All questions of order shall be decided by the Chair 20 1 20 

Subsequent questions of order and appeals shall be 
decided 20 1 19 

Motions to adjourn, for a recess, for executive business, 

and to lay on the table shall be decided 22 - 20 

A motion to proceed to consideration of a conference 

report shall be decided 27 - 27 

Bach Senator, when the yeas and nays are called, shall, 

when his name is called, answer 12 1 13 

Reasons for excusing a Senator from voting shall be 

determined 12 2 13 

Words spoken in debate, if required, shall be taken down in 

writing. Exceptionable 19 5 19 

Y. 

Yeas and nays. Bach Senator shall, when his name is 

called, answer openly, and without debate 12 1 13 

A Senator may be required to assign reasons for not 

voting, which shall be without debate 12 2 13 

He shall not be called on for reasons for not voting until 
after the roll call and before the result of the vote is 
announced 12 2 13 

Other proceedings shall be after such announcement 12 2 13 

A Senator shall not be permitted to vote after the result 

is announced 12 1 13 

For special reasons, by unanimous consent, he may 
withdraw or change his vote 12 1 13 

Any motion or resolution may be withdrawn or modified 
by the mover at any time before a decision, amend- 
ment, or ordering of the 21 2 20 



RULES FOR THE REGULATION OF THE SENATE WING 
OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL 



ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON RULES. 



RULE I. 
SERGEANT- AT- ARMS. 

The. Sergeant-at- Arms of the Senate, under the direction of 
the Presiding Officer, shall be the Executive Officer of the body 
for the enforcement of all rules made by the Committee on 
Rules for the regulation of the Senate Wing of the Capitol and 
Senate Annex. The Senate floor shall be at all times under 
his immediate supervision, and he shall see that the various 
subordinate officers of his department perform the duties to 
which they are especially assigned. 

RULE II. 

ASSISTANT DOORKEEPER AND ACTING ASSISTANT DOORKEEPER. 

The Assistant Doorkeeper and Acting Assistant Doorkeeper 
shall be assigned, during the daily sessions of the Senate, to 
duty upon the Senate floor. They shall see that the messengers 

63 



64 Rules for the Regulation of the Senate Wing. 

assigned to the doors upon the Senate floor are at their posts, 
and that the floor and cloakrooms are cleared at least five 
minutes before the opening of daily sessions of all persons not 
entitled to remain there. In the absence of the Sergeant-at- 
Arms the duties of his office, so far as they pertain to the 
enforcement of rules, shall devolve upon the Assistant Door- 
keeper. 

RULE III. 

MESSENGERS ACTING AS ASSISTANT DOORKEEPERS. 

The messengers acting as Assistant Doorkeepers shall be 
assigned to their duties by the Sergeant-at-Arms. 

RULE IV. 
GALLERIES. 

The Sergeant-at-Arms shall keep the aisles of the galleries 
clear, and shall not allow admittance into the galleries of more 
than their seating capacity. 

The galleries of the Senate shall be set apart and occupied 
as follows: 

PRESS GA^ERY. 

The gallery in the rear of the Vice-President's chair shall be 
set apart for reporters of daily newspapers. 

Persons desiring admission to the Press Gallery shall make 
application to the Committee on Rules [as required by Rule IV 
for the regulation of the Senate Wing of the United States Cap- 
itol] ; and shall also state, in writing, for what paper or papers 
they are employed; and shall further state that they are not 
engaged in the prosecution of claims pending before Congress 
or the Departments, and will not become so engaged while 



Rules for the Regulation of the Senate Wing. 65 

allowed admission to the gallery; and that they are not in any 
sense the agents or representatives of persons or corporations 
having legislation before Congress, and will not become such 
agents or representatives while retaining their right to places in 
the gallery. Visiting journalists who may be allowed tempo- 
rary admission to the gallery must conform to the restrictions 
of this rule. 

The applications required by above rule (blank forms for 
which can be obtained from the Doorkeeper of the Press Gal- 
lery) shall be authenticated in a manner that shall be satisfac- 
tory to the Standing Committee of Correspondents, who shall 
see that the occupation of the gallery is confined to bona fide 
telegraphic correspondents of reputable standing in their busi- 
ness, who represent daily newspapers; but not exceeding one 
seat shall be assigned to each paper; and it shall be the duty of 
the said Standing Committee, at their discretion, to report viola- 
tions of the privileges of the gallery to the Senate Committee 
on Rules, and pending action thereon the offending correspond- 
ent shall be suspended. 

Persons employed m the Executive or Legislative Depart- 
ments of the Government, and persons engaged in other occu- 
pations whose chief attention is not given to newspaper corre- 
spondence, shall not be entitled to admission to the Press 
Gallery; and the press list in the Congressional Directory shall 
be a list only of telegraphic correspondents. Correspondents 
entitled to the privileges of the Press Gallery 7 may' be admitted 
to the Marble Room under such regulations as may be pre- 
scribed by the Committee on Rules. 

Members of the families of correspondents are not entitled to 
admission to the Press Gallery. 
52 57 8 -i 2 -5 



66 Rules for the Regulation of the Senate Wing. 

The Press Gallery, subject to the supervision and control of 
the Committee on Rules, shall be under the direction of the 
■ Standing Committee of Correspondents. 

DIPLOMATIC GAUERY. 

The southern gallery over the main entrance to the Senate 
Chamber shall be set apart for the use of the Diplomatic 
Corps, and no person shall be admitted to it excepting the 
Secretary of State, foreign ministers, their families and suites, 
and Senators. 

The cards of admission to said gallery shall be issued by the 
Secretary of State, or the Chairman of the Committee on Rules, 
to such persons as are entitled to its privileges. 

SENATE GALEERY. 

The gallery over the east entrance to the Senate Chamber, 
formerly part of the ladies' gallery, shall be set apart for the 
exclusive use of the families of Senators and guests visiting 
their families who shall be designated by some member of the 
Senator's family. 

No others shall be admitted, either by card or personal direc- 
tion, except by the President and Vice-President to their 
respective reserved seats. 

Employees of the Senate, except those on duty at the gallery 
door, shall be excluded. 

The front seat in the Senate Gallery, next adjoining the 
ladies' gallery, shall be set apart for the use of the President, 
and no person shall be admitted to said seat except upon his 
order. 

The seat immediately in the rear of the President's seat shall 
be set apart for the use of the Vice-President, and no person 
shall be admitted thereto except upon his order. 



Rules for the Regulation of the Senate Wing. 67 

RESERVED GALLERIES. 

The reserved galleries shall be governed by the following 
rule: 

The galleries over the western entrance to the Senate Cham- 
ber and over the northeastern corner of said Chamber shall be 
set apart for the use of the families of Senators, of members of 
the House of Representatives, of Cabinet ministers, and of judges 
of the Supreme Court of the United States. Other persons may- 
be admitted to said galleries upon the card of a Senator. The 
period to which such card of admission shall be limited rests 
entirely in the discretion of the Senator issuing it. 

LADIES' GALLERY. 

The gallery extending from the Senate Gallery to the Diplo- 
matic Gallery shall be set apart for the use of ladies and ladies 
accompanied by gentlemen. 

PUBLIC GALLERIES. 

The galleries on either side of the western reserved gallery 
shall be open to the public. 

RULE V. 

MARBLK room. 

The anteroom known as the Marble Room is set apart for 
Senators and such persons as they may think proper to invite 
into the same. During the open sessions of the Senate it 
shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to see that such 
occupation of said room is not interfered with by officers of 
the Senate or other persons. 



68 Rules for the Regulation of the Senate Wing. 

RULE VI. 

CLOAKROOMS. 

No persons shall be admitted to the cloakrooms adjoining the 
Senate Chamber excepting those entitled to the privileges of the 
Senate floor under Standing Rule XXXIII. 

RULE VII. 

HEATING AND VENTILATING DEPARTMENT. 

No person shall be admitted to the heating and ventilating 
department of the Senate Wing of the Capitol, except upon a 
pass from the Sergeant-at-Arms, or unless accompanied by an 
officer of the Senate. 

And all engineers and others who are engaged in heating and 
ventilating the Senate Wing, of the Capitol shall be subject to 
the orders and in all respects under the direction of the Architect 
of the Capitol, subject to the approval of the Senate Committee 
on Rules. [Stat, at i,., vol. 25, p. 258. 

RULE VIII. 

BARBER SHOP AND BATHROOMS. 

The barber shop, and bathrooms connected therewith, shall 
be reserved exclusively for the use of Senators. The bathroom 
in the heating and ventilating department of the Senate Wing 
shall be for the use of employees of the Senate; and no other 
persons shall be entitled to its privileges. 

RULE IX. 

SENATE RESTAURANT. 

The large private room of the restaurant shall be reserved 
exclusively for Senators and their guests. 

The small private room shall be reserved exclusively for the 
use of Senators and members of the House of Representatives, 



Rules for the Regulation of the Senate Wing. 69 

and such use of the private rooms of the restaurant shall not 
be interfered with. 

The viands served in the restaurant shall be of the best 
quality, and the prices for the same shall not exceed those 
stated in the printed bills of fare, to be previously approved by 
the Chairman of the Committee on Rules, and said prices shall 
be subject to modification from time to time as the Chairman of 
the Committee on Rules may direct. 

The restaurant shall be kept open during the session of the 
Senate and during such other parts of the year as the Commit- 
tee on Rules may direct. 

The caterer shall give his personal attention and care to the 
management of the restaurant. The equipment for the tables 
and for the service shall be first class. No spirituous liquors 
shall be sold, furnished, or kept in the restaurant. All parts of 
the restaurant, with its kitchen and office, shall be kept scru- 
pulously clean, and all waste and garbage shall be removed 
daily. The rooms and vaults connected with the restaurant 
shall be kept entirely for its use, and shall not be withdrawn 
from such use for any purpose. The management of the res- 
taurant and all matters connected therewith shall at all times 
be subject to such further directions as the Committee on Rules 
may give. 

RULE X. 

CORRIDORS, ETC. 

The corridors and passageways of the Senate Wing of the 
Capitol shall be kept open and free from obstructions; and no 
stands, booths, or counters for the exhibition or sale of any 
article shall be placed therein. 



7° Rules for the Regulation of the Senate Wing, 

RULE XI. 

PEDDLING, BKGGING, ETC. 

Peddling, begging, and the solicitation of book or other sub- 
scriptions are strictly forbidden in the Senate Wing of the 
Capitol, and no portion of said wing shall be occupied by signs 
or other devices for advertising any article whatsoever, except- 
ing time tables in the Post- Office and such signs as may be 
necessary to designate the entrances to the Senate restaurant. 

RULE XII. 

SMOKING. 

Smoking is prohibited in the elevators, corridors, and passage- 
ways of the Senate Wing of the Capitol. 

RULE XIII. 

CARDS AND COMMUNICATIONS IN THE MORNING HOUR. 

No cards, letters, or other communications, except letters 
from Senators' families, and official communications, shall be 
sent to a Senator in the Chamber during the daily sessions of 
the Senate before 2 o'clock p. m., unless he shall so direct. 

RULE XIV. 

CARDS AND COMMUNICATIONS DURING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. 

No cards, letters, or other communications shall be sent to 
Senators in the Chamber when the Senate is in executive ses- 
sion, except cards of members of the House of Representatives, 
calls from the Supreme Court of the United States, letters from 
Senators' families, official communications and telegrams, unless 
Senators shall direct the messenger at the main door of the 
Senate Chamber otherwise. 



Rules for the Regulation of the Senate Wi?ig. 7 l 

RULE XV. 

SWEEPING, CLEANING. 

All sweeping, cleaning, and dusting of the Senate Wing of 
the Capitol shall be done, as far as practicable, immediately 
after the adjournment of each day's session of the Senate, and 
must, in any event, be completed before 8 o'clock a. m. 

RULE XVI. 

SENATE ANNEX AND OTHER SENATE BUILDINGS. 

All provisions of the foregoing rules so far as practicable are 
made applicable to the building called the Senate Annex, the 
buildings used for the storage of Senate documents, and the 
Senate stables. 

Resolved, That on and after the fourth of March, nineteen 
hundred and nine, the jurisdiction and functions of the Com- 
mittee on Rules, United States Senate, hitherto exercised in 
connection with "the Senate Wing of the Capitol, be, and the 
same are hereby, extended to cover in like manner jurisdiction 
over the Senate Office Building; and on and after the fourth 
day of March, nineteen hundred and nine, said committee is 
hereby authorized and directed to proceed with the arrange- 
ment of rooms in the Senate Office Building, for the use of 

Senators. [Sen. Jour., 2d Sess. 60th Cong., p. 186. 



N 



LB Mr '13 



